Medical doctors and volunteers of Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) have left for Gosaikunda to provide treatment of pilgrims who might suffer from high altitude sickness.

Every year more than 50,000 people visit the sacred lake of Gosaikunda situated to mark the Janai Poornima festival. The lake is situated at the altitude of 4,380m in the Langtang Region.

In a press conference organised by HRA prior to the departure of medical team, general secretary of HRA Kumar Ranabhat said that the team was leaving for Janai Poornima as most of the pilgrims are not aware of high altitude sickness. "People who ignore symptoms of altitude sickness face health hazards later. They need to descend down immediately and medication is needed for them. Our medical team will help them," Ranabhat added.

Medical team of HRA consists of five doctors and five paramedics and they aim to treat pilgrims that throng to the sacred lake on August 13-16.